General's Lady Episode 2 Recap
> General's Lady Recap
Shen Jin, newly arrived at the General's Mansion, was dismayed to be sent to a desolate room, feeling dismissed by General Chu Xiuming and recalling how Leopard Head, one of his men, had almost killed her during the journey. Meaty, her maid, shared her fear, whispering about the General's previous wives who had met untimely deaths and speculating if their spirits still lingered.
Despite her apprehension, Shen Jin resolved to stay, honoring her promise to her mother and the imperial decree for her marriage, refusing to bring trouble upon her family. The next morning, Meaty excitedly announced General Chu Xiuming's visit, prompting Shen Jin to meticulously prepare, hoping to impress him. However, Chu Xiuming’s demeanor was cold. He pointedly asked about her shifted attitude, questioning her true purpose and revealing that a spy had been found and killed among her bridal retinue.
Shen Jin, taken aback, denied any knowledge of a spy and challenged Chu Xiuming, asking if he suspected her given the dangerous escort she received. Chu Xiuming dismissed her concerns, offering her hometown dishes and instructing her to recuperate indoors. Frustrated by the unfulfilled marriage and his suspicions, Shen Jin found herself confined to her chamber under guard, served bland food barely enough to sustain her.
Bored and confined, Shen Jin resorted to reading a storybook titled "The General's Mansion," which she had received from a man named Big Head Zhang. The book described the mansion as a former burial pit, haunted by spirits, and detailed how the "Demon General" had caused the deaths of his three previous wives. The tale terrified Meaty and spurred Shen Jin, increasingly frustrated with Chu Xiuming, to conceive a drastic plan: to fake her own death.
By doing so, she hoped to solidify his reputation as the "Demon General," making it impossible for him to explain to the Emperor, and ensure she would not become his fourth victim. Despite Meaty's desperate pleas, Shen Jin swallowed a "fake death drug" also acquired from Big Head Zhang, and her panicked maid rushed to find help. The drug, slow to take effect, caused Shen Jin to feel intensely hot and her tongue to go numb.
Seeking relief, she stumbled outside, where she was seized by two assassins. They had been ordered to kidnap Chu Xiuming's new wife and, recognizing her, planned to use her as leverage to avenge a previous defeat against the General. Unbeknownst to them, Chu Xiuming had been secretly following Shen Jin. He witnessed her collapse, seemingly lifeless, due to the drug's effects. The assassins, believing she was dead, lamented their failed plan. Chu Xiuming swiftly dispatched the two attackers.
Believing Shen Jin had truly died, he felt a profound sense of remorse, regretting his misjudgment and acknowledging her filial piety. He tenderly carried her back to the mansion, promising to look after her mother. Back in the mansion, Meaty wept inconsolably over Shen Jin's seemingly lifeless body. However, to everyone's astonishment, Shen Jin suddenly gasped for air and sat upright, complaining about the prolonged effects of the fake death drug.
As she struggled for breath, she pulled open her collar, revealing a jade pendant. Chu Xiuming, surprised, immediately demanded it. When Shen Jin refused, he forcibly snatched it from her. Enraged, Shen Jin screamed "robbery" and clung to him, prompting Leopard Head to promptly knock her unconscious. Clutching the jade pendant, Chu Xiuming surmised that it held a secret and instructed Leopard Head to keep a close watch on Shen Jin.
When Shen Jin regained consciousness, she found herself locked in her room. Meanwhile, in his study, Leopard Head proudly presented Chu Xiuming with a new lock from the Heavenly Lock School, boasting that it was impenetrable. Amused by their underestimation of her abilities, Shen Jin easily picked her own lock with a hairpin, then, as revenge, locked Chu Xiuming and his subordinate inside the study.
Shen Jin then acquired a horse from the stables, but quickly discovered she couldn't ride, struggling to stay atop as the horse ambled through the streets. At the city gate, guards, recognizing the General's warhorse but not her, accused her of horse theft. Chu Xiuming arrived just in time to intervene. Indignant, Shen Jin confronted him about locking her up and demonstrated her remarkable lock-picking skills, effortlessly opening the "unbreakable" lock.
Impressed but suspicious, Chu Xiuming probed her about her past, but she skillfully deflected his questions. Shen Jin then accused Chu Xiuming of defying the imperial decree by delaying their marriage and constantly suspecting her, threatening to report him to the Emperor. Acknowledging his fault, Chu Xiuming agreed to her terms.
Shen Jin demanded three conditions: unrestricted movement within the mansion, permission to ride his horse out of the city to reclaim her dignity at the gate, and a third condition she had yet to decide. Chu Xiuming consented, but warned that Meaty would pay the price if Shen Jin attempted to escape. When Shen Jin admitted she couldn't ride, Chu Xiuming agreed to ride with her.
Together, they rode through the city, and Shen Jin proudly announced her identity as the General's Lady to the soldiers at the gate. Once outside the city, Chu Xiuming guided the horse through picturesque landscapes, allowing Shen Jin to enjoy the outing immensely. She remarked on the beautiful scenery, and he asked if she, as his wife, worried for him. Yearning for true freedom, Shen Jin asked when that would be possible.
Chu Xiuming promised her unrestricted access to the mansion, including his private rooms, and permission to leave the estate with an escort. Overjoyed, Shen Jin requested another ride. Later, Meaty noticed a distinct change in Shen Jin's demeanor, describing her as being "in the mood for love." Shen Jin admitted the day's excitement had made her forget all about retrieving her jade pendant, resolving to get it back the next day.
The following morning, Shen Jin confronted Chu Xiuming about the bland food and asked for her pendant. He questioned its origin, and she stated it was from her mother. When pressed for details, Shen Jin, observing his keen interest, feigned memory loss, blaming her recent hunger and fear. She shrewdly demanded lavish meals and excellent service to "recover" her memory. Chu Xiuming, skeptical, gave her three days and agreed to her demands.
True to his word, he instructed Leopard Head to fulfill all of her requests. She and Meaty indulged in a joyous feast, a stark contrast to their previous sparse meals. To reinforce his earlier warning, Chu Xiuming later questioned Leopard Head about the punishment for stealing army horses, and Leopard Head confirmed that stealing the General's horse and fleeing was a crime punishable by death.
